Mike,My father, the stoker was Eddie, and the pilot was Alan Ahern.(Russell Mockridge had not been included in the Victorian team for the National Amateur Track Cycling Championships at Hobart from March 7 to 14.He was not informed of the State Titles and did not compete, so he was not eligible.)Cheers

Lone Rider- I rode on the long, dark road... before I danced under the lights.

DDTo come to the realisation, now, about the Great Figure of Giovanni Borghi "Mr IGNIS" anda missed opportunity, in my youth. There was not the level of information available, today. Some great excerpts, also from Flandria Cafe.

An early, successful prototype of the model was Giovanni Borghi: The Milan industrialist founded the IGNIS brand of household appliances. His factories would turn out one appliance every eight seconds, and make billions selling them to Italy's exploding middle class. Borghi was famous for his early support of cycling, and his yellow IGNIS jerseyed squadra won more than a few great races in the late fifties and early sixties.

Borghi was aggressive, flamboyant and flashy. And he took care of his stars - famously buying Spanish sprinter Miguel Poblet a Lancia convertible after his Milan San Remo win. On top of his 25 million lire per year salary.

Borghi kept control of IGNIS in the family. In the paternalistic Italian industrial model - like Ferrari, Maserati or Campagnolo. He later turned the reins over to his son, who in turn finally sold the company to Dutch conglomerate, Philips.

Borghi is still remembered in Italia. RAI even aired TV miniseries about his life this past year, "Mister Ignis". Some say Borghi was a major role model to another young ambitious milanese you've probably heard of: Silvio Berlusconi.

Lone Rider- I rode on the long, dark road... before I danced under the lights.

Wonderful stuff brentono. Fabulous post.Yes the most amazing track in the world, vel d'Hiv Paris was pulled down after WW2 out of respect for the Jews, who were locked in there before being transported by the Nazis. The "rafle" or raid was an infamous part of French history. There never was, or will be, a velodrome to rival the size and atmosphere of the mighty Vel d'Hiv.

Certainly brings in the extra skills required, than just ordinary scratch races, Gary.As you are aware, it requires quick decisions, quick reflexes, skill, and strength, to facilitate the changes, where many things can go wrong. And a missed changeovercan mean, poor results, or worse a fall, which happens, often, in these events.It took good judgement, to be able to drop in, at the right position on the Track,to be setup for a Sprint point finish. It's all go-go-go for an hour or more.And in the Sixes, day in, day out. Certainly a Trackies, delight.Very exciting, to participate, and many say, to watch. My best effort was only a State Madison Championship, would have liked more.

Lone Rider- I rode on the long, dark road... before I danced under the lights.

brentono wrote:Certainly brings in the extra skills required, than just ordinary scratch races, Gary.As you are aware, it requires quick decisions, quick reflexes, skill, and strength, to facilitate the changes, where many things can go wrong. And a missed changeovercan mean, poor results, or worse a fall, which happens, often, in these events.It took good judgement, to be able to drop in, at the right position on the Track,to be setup for a Sprint point finish. It's all go-go-go for an hour or more.And in the Sixes, day in, day out. Certainly a Trackies, delight.Very exciting, to participate, and many say, to watch. My best effort was only a State Madison Championship, would have liked more.

You're lucky Brenton, they didn't have them in the State Titles here, when I was racing.

My best was in the Nerang Six Day, where I got third after loosing my partner in a fall on the third night, while we were running in third place, only 20 points off first. I road the rest of that night by myself until they decided to match me up with another rider who also lost his partner. They took half my points off me and a lap also and that put me down in eighth position but the worst part was, he was useless as tits on a bull.

The next two nights were spent getting as many points as we could and then on the last night, I got the lap back on the field. Instead of doing a lap or a lap and a half before slinging the partner back in, I was doing two and three along with trying to hammer everyone. I had to say to him, harden up a bit and bloody help me out by getting some sprint points and I'll do all the hard work and get you positioned for the sprints.

Shane Sutton and one of my best mates Evan Dawson one it, I can't remember who got second but I got $145 for third place.

Fantastic races to be in but if your reflexes were sad well, you were in all sorts of bother and trouble. Two sets of strips for the week and a set of mitts, so it was an expensive week of riding too.

Foo

I don't suffer fools easily and so long as you have done your best,you should have no regrets.Goal 6000km

Great rap there Gary, and a good finish for third. Must have been a stretch, as 6 days of straight competition is so difficult when your not used to it. And with mixed up partners it's ever harder.My first major Madison (10 Teams), had just turned 16, with another junior, we took a lot of the early sprints, and took a lap on the best Seniors, they were peeved, and gave it all, and we were only knocked out of winning, with 4 laps to go, it was a hoot. Rode many more. Liked it a lot.Those were the days. Good money (well for the day it was OK) and good crowds.And so many, very good riders, to compete against.

Lone Rider- I rode on the long, dark road... before I danced under the lights.

“Worlds champion bicycle racer who came up the hard way—Without hatred in his heart—An honest, courageous and God-fearing, clean-living gentlemanly athlete. A credit to his race who always gave out his best—Gone but not forgotten.”

... a tribute, that any sportsperson, may try, their best, to emulate.

Lone Rider- I rode on the long, dark road... before I danced under the lights.

brentono wrote:The most famous American Track Cyclist you’ve never heard of.

Ive heard of him mate. Ive read the book - several times.Major Taylor.One of the most inspiring, decent, humble and honourable human beings ever to walk the planet. And on a bicycle, he had no peer in those days. He was the greatest.

Right Mike (and Derny) Seems Major Taylor's black bike he rode in 1903 and 1904- was owned by Jack Walsh.(on display, but had sat unnoticed in Walsh's suburban cycling shop for 15 years in 2004)As to where the bike is now? (Vale Jack Walsh- 2010)

After 1904, Taylor retired, for several years after the birth of his Daughter "Sydney" in Sydney.His racing number was always 13, and although considered by many to be unlucky, Taylor always insisted that promoters allot him the "devil's number" on the programme.

Lone Rider- I rode on the long, dark road... before I danced under the lights.